Old Town ghosts get caught up in the party spirit!



"The Captain", Asaph Allen with the 9th Kansas Cavalry. First at Camp Collins.

This day in Fort Collins history. Today is July 22^nd. This is the official birthdate of Camp Collins which was built by the 9th Kansas and 11th Ohio Cavalry's in the town of La Porte way back in 1862. That was 149 years ago!

Camp Collins remained in this location for almost two years until a disastrous flood sent enormous amounts of melted snowfall from the winter previous, rushing down the Poudre River and taking out the camp. Two months later a new fort location, 4 miles downstream, was inspected and found suitable for a military reservation. Today we know that fort site as our own wonderful town o’ Fort Collins, named after Lt. Col. William Oliver Collins who was THE MAN and the guy who inspected the new fort and by Special Order No. 1 gave the “A Okay”  or  "thumbs up" to start building on it.

Lt. Colonel William Oliver Collins.

 As one recent guest to Haunted History After Dark commented or rather exclaimed enthusiastically, "You mean to tell me...that if there had never been a flood in La Porte in 64...we wouldn't be here?!!!"

And the answer is, well, yes, sort of…

To hear the rest of this amazing story and learn what was found to be “unfit for humans” during an 1865 inspection of the fort and may have caused the deaths of many young cavalrymen and at least one civilian who all NOW haunt a popular Old Town party spot, you will need to take the Haunted History After Dark tour.  Beware, at this spooky site it’s not just humans that are caught up in the party spirit…

Come Walk with the Spirits who are dying to meet you!

For reservations please email hauntedhistoryafterdark@yahoo.com. Cost is 10 big ones per courageous ghost buster or 35 clams for an extra brave group of four.  

Kate and Grace

 Stephen Stills begged Suite Judy Blue Eyes long ago, “Will you come see me…Thursdays and Saturdays…” What a coincidence! That’s when our tours are.  Will you come see us…Thursdays and Saturdays.  Or by reservation. 7:30 p.m.  Tours start at 136 W. Mountain Avenue home of Boutique Bravo and Mother Lode Gallery where owner Kate has been in business for a whopping 33 years! Check her out.

And remember…YOUR HAUNTED JOURNEY STARTS AT DUSK!

Ken Burns newest documentary hits close to home for Haunted History After Dark

A haunting full moon and many ghostly tales entertained this courageous group from Fort Collins on a Haunted History After Dark tour last Thursday night.  The streets of Old Town were alive with activity as we began our tour and added to the excitement. Grace and I unraveled the extraordinary early history of this colorful town and the MOST haunted locations for our brave tour participants.There are many historical and haunted gems along our route and some those treasures we unveiled for our Haunted History After Dark guests were; ghost signs, a long lost cemetery in the heart of Old Town where cavalrymen of the past still lay forgotten beneath the bricks, and the nails on the side of a 1879 bank, where long ago a very famous Frontier man once posted his adventures for all the town to see.

At the first location on our tour, well known local ghost whisperer Grace, related to us that one of the spectral beings that regularly visits us on our tour (and usually sends goosebumps up and down the necks of our guests) had, with Grace’s help, reunited with her love interest in the after-life.  She stayed for only a short time on our tour, as she explained that she was “busy”.  But, definitely made an appearance.  One enthusiastic participant loved the story and said, “Cool! Shackin’ up in the after life!”  According to Grace, spirits don’t need to stay in the emotion and event in which they died. That after death, we are allowed to progress, grow and develop, even in the beyond. This particular spirit, who meets with our guests regularly on our tour, has taken that step and is a happy spirit.  But, this is not so true for many ghosts on route.

  One very enthusiastic (human) guest to Haunted History After Dark, Cory, related a great story to Grace and I regarding his decision to move to Fort Collins from Payson, Arizona.Cory (above with sister Christina) said that after graduating from high school he had applied to many colleges including Colorado State.  One afternoon, he was wondering which college to attend and happened to look at the beer he was holding in his hand. It was a Fat Tire, and the address for the brewing company said, “Fort Collins, Colorado.” That was the sign he needed. He enrolled here and it was love at first sight. Cory says he loves Fort Collins history and was drawn here for a reason.  We love stories like this.  Cory had an amazing resemblance to early resident, Joe Mason. Possibly a past life? If so, Cory would definitely be up for an adventure as Joe Mason was not only the early resident who helped choose the site for the Fort, but was the town’s first sheriff, first postmaster and first sutler owner.

Let us know what you think. If you would like a past life reading contact Grace at hauntedhistoryafterdark@yahoo.com.

 When Grace and I show this fun treasure (at right) to visitors on our tour many say,"I walk on this everyday and never knew it was here!" Two of our guests really wanted a closer look.

Nearing the end of our tour visitors were taken to the exact location where a "night on the town" in 1881 at one of the most popular watering spots in early Fort Collins ended in one of the most tragic and ghostly incidents in Fort Collins history and was the last straw for many residents before enacting prohibition in the city.

Learn the tragic reason why Fort Collins decided to prohibit the sell of alcohol for 73 years, as well as the locations where popular beer bottlers in the city were turned over night, literally, into bootleggers!
One of our wonderful guests, Jan (at left), said, “I cannot believe that Fort Collins was a dry town for THAT LONG!”

Producer Ken Burns is scheduled to release a documentary regarding prohibition this fall. His film will discuss the economic,political and social problems that arose from prohibition. Our own town of Fort Collins was not immune to those same conflicts caused by prohibition. But the short lived scandals and events that resulted from it helped to create the amazing, extraordinary and HAUNTED stories of early Fort Collins. Burns link is http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/upcoming/.

Check out Ken Burn’s current production and take the Haunted History After Dark tour to learn more about our wonderful town’s haunted history connection regarding the event of prohibition which included crime, conflict, persecution and often times death.

Can any of our readers recognize where this is? It is a building in the heart of the city, was the home of a bootlegger after June of 1896 and was also the site of a "most distressing tragedy".

As famous songwriter Stephen Stills writes in “Suite Judy Blue Eyes”, “Will you come see me. Thursdays and Saturday’s ?” Haunted History After Dark offers tours to brave guests Thursdays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Or by reservation. Please contact us at hauntedhistoryafterdark@yahoo.com YOUR HAUNTED JOURNEY STARTS AT DUSK!

Early cultures and clashes make Fort Collins a location of extraordinary haunted and historical past.

Last Saturday night Haunted History After Dark welcomed four courageous visitors to the tour. John and Lisa (at right) are proprietors of a well-known business in not only a busy district of Old Town today, but in Fort Collins early history, was the heart of the city. This was an area of much activity especially in the late 1870’s and 1880’s as the town grew south and west from the new Fort site. Churches, hotels, blacksmith shops, and the first fire house in Fort Collins inhabited this historic area. We thank John and Lisa, and their brave friends, Zach and Susan for their generosity in sharing their own stories and for taking our tour.

Fort Collins is a very interesting city with an extraordinary past. Early in its history, our town attracted not only educated, well to do Easterners, but it also lured those working for the railroad, miners, cowboys employed by large livestock company’s, homesteaders, and others looking to start a new life in the American Frontier. Even as early as the 1860’s the protection of the Cavalry at the new fort brought in many new residents which included brave entrepreneurs like Judge Stone and Joe Mason, bankers and mercantile men like William and Frank Stover, land owners like Abner Loomis, as well as livestock ranchers and Cavalry men like Norman Meldrum and Asaph Allen. You might notice that these names look very familiar, as we travel down their streets every day.

Joe Mason Street, is always a crowd pleaser right about 3:00 p.m. as the Colorado and Central journey’s through Fort Collins and halts travel for miles. The traffic jam it causes usually ruffles a few feathers, understandably. But, this may ease your mind a bit, the next time you are stopped on Mason Street as the train goes lumbering by, remember that without Joe Mason and the other names mentioned above, we might not even have had a town as wonderful as Fort Collins to call home. Joe actually helped the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry pick the site for the new Fort back in July of 1864. He was the first postmaster, first sheriff, and first store owner in Fort Collins.

If it weren’t for these few courageous settlers who decided to stay after the Cavalry left in 1867, Fort Collins may have been just another ghost town on the prairie. And when the Colorado and Central tracks were laid in town in 1877 (it was then called the Colorado and Southern) the town population tripled in size. This inconvenience for us today actually put us on the map 134 years ago!

By the 1870’s and forward we had many new residents from all walks of life looking for freedom and fortune in the West. This wonderful complex mix of demographics, cultures, and backgrounds created a colorful landscape for an early town. By 1883 Fort Collins not only had a new fire station on Walnut, a reputable and expensive financial institution on Linden and Walnut, an Agricultural College of the west (now Colorado State University), as well as many reputable homes and stores on College, but it also had 5 brothels, 13 saloons, and various gambling houses with only a population of 1356! This blend of goals and aims of residents for this new town of Fort Collins occasionally caused conflict, persecution, crime and often time’s death.
Through Grace’s natural intuitiveness and my historical research we can take you back in time and put you in touch with one of the most famous locations where those two early cultures clashed, as well as the site where an early resident met his demise and the social political outcome of his death that altered the city for 131 years!

Learn more on the Haunted History After Dark tours which run Thursday and Saturday nights at 7:30pm or by reservation. $10 per courageous visitor or $35 for a brave group of four. Contact hauntedhistoryafterdark@yahoo.com or call 970-690-7986. Tours begin in front of Boutique Bravo and Mother Lode Gallery at 136 West Mountain Avenue. This location is also haunted and the business of Boutique Bravo has found its home in many haunted Old Town locations for over 33 years!
YOUR HAUNTED JOURNEY STARTS AT DUSK!
Historical photos courtesy of Fort Collins museum and Poudre River Library.

New Old Town haunted locations causing trouble and making spirits upset!

We want to give a HUGE thank you and welcome to our youngest and most courageous guest to Haunted History After Dark tours, Dillan , along with his mother Becki, her brave boyfriend Justin, and his Aunt Hali, from Fort Collins, Colorado, for participating on of our Wednesday night tours. Eight year-old, Dillan, demonstrated enormous talent in his Fort Collins history and tremendous courage in joining our haunted historical tour of Old Town Fort Collins. It was an interesting night, and we thank you all for participating!

As a passionate Fort Collins historian and journalist, I am constantly researching, digging, and prying into new stories, new events and new characters that are a part of our town’s extraordinary historical past. To me, this is all very exciting. I learn the history, the location, the event, and the “who, what, where, when and how”. But, sometimes, unknown to me, I resurrect people of the past who don’t always want their stories to be told. And sometimes, as I’m learning, the spirits get very upset. This very thing happened this last Wednesday night.
A week earlier, I had been looking into a Dec. 1881 death that had occurred on the Haunted History After Dark’s traditional route. I researched the location, the people involved, and the result, and spent hours writing the script. I was excited to offer it to our wonderful guests Wednesday night as this event had to do with enormous historical social and political changes that occurred in the city after this crisis, which altered the make- up of the city for 131 years!
However, even on the first location of our tour on Wednesday, this spirit (early resident) that I had been researching immediately interrupted our tour, at a completely different location than where we were going to talk about him, and was NOT happy. Somehow, spiritually, he had clued in that we were going to talk about his story. Grace picked up on it immediately, and said to me, “We cannot talk about this person…he is very upset, give me some time.”
Old Town Fort Collins is filled with an abundance of spiritual entities connected to historical events that they are a crucial part of. Through my researching and writing I sometimes resurrect them. Some are okay with this. Many are not. Until I began doing these tours with Grace, I did not really realize how powerful human thoughts are. What we as humans put our energy towards, manifests itself. Even simple thoughts, writings, and emotions can re-create those same emotions, fears, desires and heart-break of our early residents, and raise them from their spiritual slumber. Many of those Grace and I put our focus on do come alive for us and our visitors on our tours. A beautiful young, bookkeeper, who perished in a horrific fire in February of 1880 often visits us on our route. An angry proprietor of an early Speak –Easy on College Avenue attempts many times to interrupt our tours but is discouraged after assertive protection from Grace. And an 1880’s mercantile and miner owner, who inhabits Old Town Square, often manifests himself through goose-bumps and strict words for our tour guests.

Through my research, when I historically resurrect a person or place for our tours, and they emerge confused as why they were brought back, Grace will often times intervene psychically and either communicate to the spirit that we are conducting a tour, or send them to the “other side”, Heaven or “Home” as she has responded to a recent guest on our tour, if they so desire. Many times she will send entities to the other side even if they don’t “desire”.
I do need to tell you that Grace is an extraordinarily gifted medium and ghost whisperer, and before all of our tours Grace envelops everyone in safe light, and after our tours she makes certain everyone leaves spiritually cleaner or cleansed and safer than before they took the tour.

As for our recently resurrected ghostly historically 1880’s tour participant, and his amazing story, Haunted History After Dark is conducting some clearance and construction. You won’t want to miss his tale, as it happened right on the streets of Old Town, and changed the history of this town we call the “Jewel of the Frontier” for over a hundred years!
Remember YOUR HAUNTED JOURNEY STARTS AT DUSK!
Tours run Thursday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. $10 per/courageous guest or $35 for an extra brave group of 4. Tours begin at Boutique Bravo and Mother Lode Gallery located at 136 West Mountain Avenue. This site is also haunted and the business of Boutique Bravo has found its home in many Old Town haunted locations for over 33 years!
Contact hauntedhistoryafterdark@yahoo.com for tour details, or call 970-690-7986. Visit our blog at http://hauntedhistoryafterdark.blogspot.com.

This last Wednesday, Haunted History After Dark, welcomed guests from Fort Collins, and as far away as Berthoud, CO for a ghostly walking adventure.  Even from the first haunted location on our tour, goose bumps were felt by all, as a 131 year-old tale of tragedy unfolded that night on the streets of Old Town. While local ghost whisperer and tour guide, Grace, connected with the spirits at this site who had perished in one of the most terrible incidents in early Fort Collins history, the guests found themselves rubbing the prickly sensation on back of their necks and arms, as one of the specter’s desired to make its presence known within the group. With the many ethereal beings we encounter on our tours, Grace says, "...this is normal".

As the night progressed, the streets of Old Town were not only alive and vibrant with celebrants of the local bars and restaurants, but the spirits who inhabit those places got in on the action as well. At one location on the haunted route, our group encountered an angry past “proprietor” of a long ago brothel on College, which is now a very popular watering spot, who in his ghostly form told us to “…move along…MOVE ALONG!” Which we obliged.  This particular spirit is one of the most active on our tour, and his moods are unpredictable.  Grace says, “He knows full well that I can take him to other side, and he DOESN’T like it!” As the historical guide on tour, I’ve actually had my own encounter with this brown- suited man while Grace and I were researching our route, and he didn’t like me either!

As we ventured north through Old Town Square, we found Mr. William Trimble, an early resident and mercantile proprietor waiting for us and watching our every step, move and word. He’s very protective and particular about his location.  Grace advised us that in a spirit form he was standing within the group and listening to our tales. Again, all of us, except for Grace, were rubbing the goose bumps off the back of our necks. As a Fort Collins historian, I then became nervous, as I wanted to provide for him his well-deserved justice, but Grace reassured me, after her confirmation and communication from him that my accuracy regarding him was “dead” on. However, please be fore-warned that Mr. Trimble is not one to be reckoned with. Even today, in his ghostly presence, he still watches and will reprimand those who loiter or litter near his early establishment.

Amid a full moon, the tour ended at a ghostly and tragic location on north College, which the Fort Collins Courier newspaper headlined on the 17^th of May 1905, as a “Distressing Tragedy Almost in the Heart of the City”. But, for Grace and I, the most distressing tragedy, was saying good bye to our wonderful Haunted History After Dark guests! As we bid them adieu, as I always do, I told them, “Get home safe and alive…don’t end up on our tour!”

Grace and I need to say that we were VERY honored to be a part of a reunion between two of our guests. The pair had only met twice since high school, previous to our tour, and we feel extremely privileged to be a part of that. Thank you so much to you! Now that is cool history!

If you would like to experience goose bumps and communicate with the early residents of Fort Collins, or….would like to reunite with a high school buddy like our guests, you need to take the Haunted History After Dark tour. Walk with the spirits who are dying to meet you!

YOUR HAUNTED JOURNEY STARTS AT DUSK!

Contact hauntedhistoryafterdark@yahoo.com  or call 970-690-7986 to book your ghostly adventure.

This day in Fort Collins history, June 9^th,  1864. What disatrous event in this day in Fort Collins history caused the structure of the new Fort and later deaths and hauntings in this Cavalry town...

Haunted History After Dark tour guide and local Ghost Whisperer, Grace, takes you through the streets of Old Town communicating directly and live with the spirits that still inhabit this special place. Have you ever wondered if a location in Fort Collins or Old Town is haunted? Grace can tell you. She has a true gift, and can tell you first-hand, the emotions and stories of those who still relive their lives in this Cavalry town. According to Grace, Old Town Fort Collins has an endless abundance of spectral beings that walk among us in Fort Collins. Have you ever experienced an encounter? Feel free to share with us. Make sure you read all of her blogs regarding her work as a psychic and ghost whisperer on our page at http://hauntedhistoryafterdark.blogspot.com/. 

Along with Grace’s talent, as a Fort Collins historian, I can provide for you the history, stories, development, booms and busts, as well as the scandals of the town. Fort Collins is quite extraordinary and I like to call it the “Jewel of the Frontier”. Boulder may have its mining history, but it was the Cavalry who was sent here in 1862, in the height of the Civil War, by President Lincoln himself, to protect all those miners and settlers moving into the area. WE have the Cavalry! WE have Chivington, and “The Captain” Allen (who suffered a grizzly death and may still haunt Old Town).(His photo is below)

We have Lt. Colonel William Oliver Collins and the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and early Native American's, Arapaho Chief’s Friday (at right) and Roman Nose who inhabited the plains we now call home as well. We walk, dine and shop on the same streets that the Blue Coats would have while they were stationed here, only 147 years later.  The military reservation in what we know as Old Town, was commissioned in August of 1864. It is why we celebrate New West Fest in the first place. That is when Lt. William Oliver Collins of the 11^th Ohio Cavalry, who was originally supposed to be fighting the Civil War, came with two companies from Fort Larimie, to give his okay on the 6000 acres for a reservation, with a “fort” and parade ground located just north of Jefferson St.  The Fort was stationed there to protect all the miners, settlers, and the stage line’s coming through the area. Okay, so why is June 9^th, 1864 so special in Fort Collins history? A flood! Just as our Poudre is rising today, on June 9^th in 1864, an enormous rush of water coming down the Cache La Poudre washed out the original “camp” Collins, which was located in La Porte, just south of Vern’s. No deaths occurred, but the government saw an immediate need to place a more permanent “fort” in a better area. With the help of a new settler, Joe Mason (who Mason Street is named after) and a Lt. Hanna, a new site was located. Today it encompasses Jefferson Street north to the river, and to the east where Ranchway Feeds is now.

The government decided to abandon the Fort in 1867. Just two years after President Lincoln’s death. Absolutely no buildings remain of the original Fort. One structure, Auntie’s Stone’s cabin, which was located off the original fort location and was used as an Officers mess, was saved. It has a phenomenal history in Old Town, and can be toured at the Fort Collins Museum.

However, there is one structure that was located on the original Fort grounds that continues to cause a ghostly problem, even today. From 1865 to 1867, 16 deaths occurred at the Fort hospital. 16 young soldiers and cavalrymen lost their lives at that Fort hospital. They, and at least one civilian, famous in early Fort Collins history, were buried at a location south of Old Town, which at the time was desolate. Today, it is in the heart of the city where many celebrations take place. Even after some of the bodies were removed in the 1870’s to make way for residences, many still remain. And the spirits of those young soldiers and  cavalrymen refuse to leave. Learn where that location is on a walking tour with Haunted History After Dark. Come walk with the spirits who are dying to meet you! Email hauntedhistoryafterdark@yahoo.com to reserve your spot. YOUR HAUNTED JOURNEY STARTS AT DUSK!

Historical photos are courtesy of the Fort Collins Museum and Discovery Center and the Poudre Library.

 

Historic Old Town, Fort Collins, CO – Does Having Ghosts Help or Hurt Business?

(***Please note that photos for this post are random Old Town photos taken for their aesthetic qualities and do not necessarily represent those businesses to which we have talked.***)

In the months that Suzy and I have been researching and conducting our Historic Haunted tours, we (mostly Suzy!) have talked to many business-owners downtown in Old Town, Fort Collins, CO. When asked, most of them tell us about their experiences in dealing with unexplained happenings in their store/office. They tell us about what their employees have seen and reported to them too.

 They talk about items in their business being moved overnight while the store is closed and supposedly empty. Items have disappeared, only to reappear again in a few days. They tell us about noises heard by them, employees, customers and guests. Often, they are repeating stories that have been told for years and years in their space. It is common, too, for them to talk of what the previous tenant reported when they took over the space as the new tenant. Many report sightings of ghosts - dressed in the garb of the ghosts’ time.

One establishment, for some time, was unable to be open, according to the stories - during the day - because things unexpectedly and without explanation would fly off the shelves. They were afraid customers would get hit by flying objects. When we started our research for our tours, we talked to the ghosts in that establishment and found the one responsible - and found out why he was throwing things.

It is VERY common to hear these stories in Old Town.

What is even MORE common is the fear that public knowledge of possible hauntings will drive away customers – or that someone will think they are crazy or making it up. Suzy and I are always very respectful of the wishes of business owners. Suzy has asked many owners/managers if we can bring our tours INTO their business to talk about the hauntings. No one has ever agreed to this. Some get downright angry.

I see their point. As a Ghost-Whisperer, I was dealing with ghosts when ghosts weren’t cool. :)

So I know that, these days, ghosts ARE cool – they’re trendy and much sought-after. Many people tour the country (and world) specifically in search of ghost/haunted tours. We have entertained those on our tours who have been on haunted tours all over the planet.  And look at the MANY! ghost-hunter reality series on TV right now – people are hungry for this type of information!

So not only do ghosts NOT run off customers, they currently BRING IN customers! Our tour members want to go to the buildings we include on our tour and go inside them to see if, perhaps, they can see the ghosts! They are going to frequent those establishments more frequently than those NOT on the tour, just because they are curious. They, therefore, are probably going to spend some of their money in those establishments, because they will want to spend as much time in there as possible.

 So while I understand the old stigma of not wanting anyone to know that YOU know that your building is haunted, I would encourage business owners to not only embrace the new understanding and interest in ghosts and hauntings, I would encourage them to USE this knowledge to increase their sales and customer flow.

For example:  Does the Stanley Hotel http://stanleyhotel1-px.trvlclick.com/ in nearby tourist attraction Estes Park, CO profit from its reportedly haunted status?  You BET it does! It advertises ghost tours right on its main website! It was made even more popular, because it was used as the setting for Stephen King's book made into a movie, The Shining. 

I say Fort Collins Old Town http://www.coloradoinfo.com/fortcollins/oldtown businesses should jump on the proverbial haunted/ghost bandwagon and milk it for all it is worth! :) It can only HELP business!

To all of the business in Old Town, I extend my gratitude for all your patience and kindness extended to Suzy and myself. :)

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002322341300&ref=ts
http://www.coloradopsychics.com
hauntedhistoryafterdark@yahoo.com
http://www.RecycledGrace.etsy.com